Improvement in packings for car-axle boxes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISBON BENEDICT, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOHN N. VAN LEW, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PACKINGS FOR CAR-AXLE BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 176,582, dated April 25, 1876 application filed February 16, 1876.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISBON BENEDIO'T, of Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Packing for Gar-Axle Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description'of the same.

The invention relates to means for packing the axle-boxes of cars and other vehicles so as to furnish a gradual supply of lubricating material to thejournal, and consists in the application of cork or other analogous vegetable product, so that oils of a liquid character at ordinary temperatures, may be as readily employed as those that assume a more solid form, and so that the boxes may be safely manipulated even by unskilled persons.

Heretofore cotton or woolen waste has been employed with oil, grease, alcohol, or water, but the cott n or wool requires such frequent .replacement and is so expensive, that it has been longan important object with railroad men to find some cheaper and equally effective substitute.

In order to accomplish this object, I take cork or other elastic woody substance possessing the like porosity, and reduce or disintegrate it by comminution to small particles; I then intimately mix therewith oil, tallow, or other lubricant, until the whole assumes a waxy homogeneous appearance, and reaches a consistency and solidity suflicient to make a compact article. This compound is very elastic and yields its lubricating element only to heat, and then very gradually, lasting well and economizing the lubricant, the cork being also obtainable at small expense. I augment the efficiency of the ordinary packings, increase the durability, and furnish one at a less cost.

This packing is equally applicable to piston-rods, and steam or water-joints of any kind whatever.

Having thus described my invention, what 

